Important Indian Government Schemes Since Independence (1947-2025) #
This document provides a chronological list of major central government schemes in India from 1947 to August 2025, including launch years and brief descriptions. The list focuses on notable schemes across sectors like agriculture, rural development, health, education, and economic reforms. Schemes are selected based on their impact and historical significance.
| Launch Year | Scheme Name | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Planning Commission | Established to formulate and oversee India’s five-year plans for economic and social development. |
| 1951 | First Five Year Plan | Focused on agricultural development to boost farm output and address food shortages. |
| 1952 | Community Development Programme (CDP) | Aimed at overall rural development through community participation and infrastructure improvement. |
| 1956 | Second Five Year Plan | Emphasized industrial development and heavy industries for economic modernization. |
| 1956 | Industrial Policy Resolution | Introduced a mixed economy model with state control over key industries. |
| 1956 | Kerosene Subsidy | Provided subsidized kerosene to low-income households; phased out by 2022. |
| 1960 | Intensive Agriculture Development Program (IADP) | Offered loans for seeds and fertilizers to enhance agricultural productivity. |
| 1961 | Third Five Year Plan | Aimed at economic self-reliance with focus on agriculture and wheat production. |
| 1964 | Intensive Agriculture Area Programme (IAAP) | Developed special harvest programs in selected agricultural areas. |
| 1965 | Credit Authorization Scheme (CAS) | Implemented qualitative credit control by the Reserve Bank of India. |
| 1965 | Green Revolution | Introduced high-yield seeds to increase food grain production and achieve food security. |
| 1966 | High Yielding Variety Programme (HYVP) | Boosted food grain productivity using modern inputs and varieties. |
| 1966 | Rupee Devaluation | Devalued the rupee by 57% to address balance of payments crisis and boost exports. |
| 1966 | Annual Plans (1966-1969) | Short-term plans due to economic challenges like wars and monsoon failures. |
| 1969 | Rural Electrification Corporation | Provided electricity infrastructure in rural areas. |
| 1969 | Bank Nationalization | Nationalized 14 private banks to expand rural banking and priority sector lending. |
| 1969 | Fourth Five Year Plan | Promoted growth with stability and self-reliance, including family planning. |
| 1972 | Food Subsidy | Subsidized food grains for low-income groups; major financial outlay in budgets. |
| 1972 | Scheme of Discriminatory Interest Rate | Offered concessional loans at 4% to weaker sections of society. |
| 1973 | Drought Prone Area Programme | Protected drought-affected areas through environmental balance and groundwater development. |
| 1973 | Crash Scheme for Rural Employment | Generated employment opportunities in rural regions. |
| 1974 | Fifth Five Year Plan | Targeted poverty eradication (“Garibi Hatao”), employment, and agricultural production. |
| 1975 | Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) | Addressed malnutrition and health issues for children under 6 and mothers. |
| 1975 | Twenty Point Programme | Focused on poverty eradication and improving living standards. |
| 1977 | Urea Subsidy | Subsidized urea for farmers; significant budget allocation. |
| 1977 | Desert Development Programme | Controlled desert expansion and maintained environmental balance. |
| 1977 | Food For Work Programme | Provided food grains in exchange for labor in rural areas. |
| 1978 | Rolling Plan (1978-1980) | Flexible annual planning approach replacing fixed five-year plans. |
| 1979 | Training Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM) | Offered educational and vocational training for rural youth. |
| 1980 | Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) | Promoted overall development for rural poor. |
| 1980 | National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) | Generated employment for rural workforce. |
| 1980 | Interlinking of Rivers Project | Developed water resources by linking rivers. |
| 1980 | Sixth Five Year Plan | Focused on economic liberalization and poverty eradication. |
| 1985 | Seventh Five Year Plan | Aimed at self-sufficient economy and productive employment. |
| 1987 | National Child Labour Projects (NCLP) | Eliminated child labor in hazardous industries. |
| 1990 | Annual Plans (1990-1992) | Interim plans due to political instability. |
| 1992 | Eighth Five Year Plan | Emphasized human resource development and new economic policy. |
| 1993 | Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) | Allowed MPs to fund local development works. |
| 1995 | National Social Assistance Programme | Provided financial aid to elderly, widows, and disabled. |
| 1997 | Ninth Five Year Plan | Promoted growth with social justice and equality. |
| 1997 | Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) | Improved education for tribal students. |
| 1997 | National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) | Controlled and eliminated tuberculosis. |
| 1999 | Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana | Encouraged students in science research. |
| 2000 | Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) | Provided all-weather road connectivity to rural villages. |
| 2000 | Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) | Ensured food security for the poorest families. |
| 2001 | Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana | Created wage employment and community assets in rural areas. |
| 2002 | Tenth Five Year Plan | Aimed to double per capita income and reduce poverty. |
| 2003 | Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) | Improved healthcare access through new institutions like AIIMS. |
| 2005 | Janani Suraksha Yojana | Promoted institutional deliveries to reduce maternal mortality. |
| 2005 | National Health Mission | Strengthened public health systems across India. |
| 2006 | Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) | Guaranteed 100 days of wage employment to rural households. |
| 2007 | Eleventh Five Year Plan | Focused on rapid and inclusive growth. |
| 2012 | Twelfth Five Year Plan | Aimed for faster, inclusive, and sustainable growth (last FYP before NITI Aayog). |
| 2014 | Make in India | Promoted manufacturing and investment in India. |
| 2014 | Namami Gange | Conserved and rejuvenated the Ganga River. |
| 2014 | Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) | Achieved financial inclusion through zero-balance bank accounts. |
| 2014 | Swachh Bharat Abhiyan | Nationwide campaign for cleanliness and sanitation. |
| 2015 | Beti Bachao Beti Padhao | Promoted girl child education and survival. |
| 2015 | Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) | Provided loans to micro and small enterprises. |
| 2015 | Atal Pension Yojana (APY) | Ensured pension security for the unorganized sector. |
| 2015 | Digital India | Transformed India into a digitally empowered society. |
| 2015 | Skill India | Enhanced skill development for youth employability. |
| 2016 | Startup India | Supported entrepreneurship and innovation. |
| 2016 | Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) | Insured farmers against crop losses. |
| 2016 | Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana | Provided relief to the poor during economic crises like COVID-19. |
| 2019 | Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) | Offered income support to small and marginal farmers. |
| 2020 | Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan | Promoted self-reliance through economic stimulus packages. |
| 2020 | Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) | Provided collateral-free loans to street vendors. |
| 2020 | Mission Karmayogi | Built capacity for civil servants through training. |
| 2020 | Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) | Boosted fisheries sector and exports. |
| 2020 | Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan | Created employment for migrant workers post-COVID. |
| 2020 | Mission COVID Suraksha | Accelerated COVID-19 vaccine development. |
| 2021 | Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme | Incentivized manufacturing in key sectors (expanded from 2020). |
| 2021 | Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission | Created digital health ecosystem. |
| 2022 | PM Gati Shakti | Integrated infrastructure planning for multimodal connectivity. |
| 2023 | Vibrant Villages Programme | Developed border villages for security and tourism. |
| 2024 | Lakhpati Didi | Empowered women to become lakhpatis through self-help groups. |
| 2025 | Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana | Enhanced agricultural productivity and farmer welfare (announced in Budget 2025-26). |
| 2025 | Rural Prosperity and Resilience Scheme | Focused on rural economic resilience and infrastructure (Budget 2025-26). |